New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-28
TIE TOMB OFLION GARDINER.

AN INTERESTING MONUMENT OVER THE SPOT
WHERE HE Is SUPPOSED TO BE BURIED.
| EAsTHAMProN, H. L. May 20-rhe descendants OF
Lion Gardiner, GARDENERS Island. who live in this
Deighborhoou have recently had the grave OF their
ancestor in the Easthampton Cemetery marked by an
enduring and handsome monument The ehgY OF the
old soldier carved of solid granite and represents
him with closed helmet and wearing his cuira,s.
with folded arms no lies upon stone tomb about five
icet IN height A root OF stone above his head sap
ported by pillars keeps the and snow from beat
ng down on the figure IL IA n striking sight among
the crumbling and moss-grown hradstOnes of the
cemetery. ana there lew travellers along the
broad highway adjacent who fail to stop long enough
To inspect curously this grave, the only probably
In America marked in the fashion OF the Middle Ages.
An iron railing surrounds the monument On its four
sides ettered in old English is brief sketch OF the
sturdy pioneer who supposed to rest in the ground
below Supposed TO rest Tor il is not by any means
certain that the grave IS that of Lion Gardiner
Tho Identity OF the exact spot had long been lost,
and when it determined TO mark his grave with a
hitting memorial stone the only clew to which grave
was his was in tho knowledge that old LiOu tail
and brawny OF the several low mounds near the
spot where he was buried the longest selected.
graye-digger dug down and found lot OF bones and
~ these undoubtedly belonged to large man, it as
taken Tor granted that they the relics Of the old
Lord Of Gardiners leland 50 they reverently
| replaced. the grave filed and the monument
was placed ABOVE.
The reader learns from the inscription that Lion
Gardiner, born 1859, did service engineer
officer Tor the unfortunate Charles OF England in the
Low Countries. He also prOhered his aid to the Prince
OF Orange. and considerable lighting under that
leader. In 1875 he by his Sovereign OF Eng
land to New Eng aud, along tho coast OF which the
struggling Pilgrims jlst securing tQOth0ld.
| tdrduc's special duty was 90 assume command OF
the ltc band OF settlers who had pitcned their tents
nj SayOrook, Conn. Under his instructions tue old
/ tort at SAyUrook was built to protect them from
danger OF determination at the hands OF the PequOt
ana Naragansett tribes OF Indians In 1888 Gar
diner VINO had secured the git from the King OF the
beautiful island OF Long Island which still bears
| his name. moved TO his newly acquired property
where he dwclt like monarch with none to dispute
ms sway Tie rich lands east OF the Shinnecock ills
proved powerful temptation to the old spider, and
| notwithstanding that there WAS ample sou-3.3OO
! acIe5-tO support him an his descendants forever
more on Gardeners leland, he managed TO secure
grgs tracts IN this vicinity where the little village OF
hnuiPl'h was Just spflnsihE up lie slcht great
C'hl OF ms time here, and this village that ne
died IN 1868, and by his wish it was here that he was
| burieQ.
o the thousands OF fertile that he owned here
aDoats his descendant, retaiu only few hundred.
Gard nci's Island. however, is still owned and Occu
pod by the family, which consists at present OF john
| Lion. Ihomls aud David Gardiner. aud Mrs Sarah
Gardiner Tyler. One OF the family, MISS julia Gar
| diner WAS m trried u President Tyler in Is H.
Many stores whose origin Is lost in the msts OF the
seventeenth century are told by tue usher iok oil
! Long. leland about Lion Gardiner That lac was u
silent partner OF the late Captain dd IL fact which
admits % no doubt III the maids OF the fishermen from
ShnucrOck Hills 10 MOntau6 lOiuf. The cam-lgger
o. sag HarUOr ~ be woarliy leans on his rake ana
gazts 49, the hay bluhs OF Gardincs Island signs
aud matters: ID had all the treasure that - buried
on that island Id never have To dig dny more clans
hat The mythical spOs OF the bD Duccaneer OF the
spanish Main rIstns away somewhere on
hardi ers Island Is dcluslon that The people about
hero i0ndy hug to their bO-On-. Stories OF that buried
treasure the OF which n limited only by the
I'm gln.Ons OF the rclaters. been banded down
thfnhsh Intermediate generations to the p' -'hl utJ
| and belief IN their truth ~ a. firmly rooted III the
minds OF the simple people their belief that potatoes
yield best when the seed Is planted at the iul Of the
moon. The tact that Captain Kidd hourshed more
thau thirty ears after Lion Gardiner buried
ths Old cemetery does DISTURB their conviction III
the least As matter OF TACT Kidd did bury treasure
on GARDENERS Island. but when h. was tax III TO
Bo.ton captive ~ CHAINS he revealed the spot where
the treasure ay and the Governor OF Massachusetts,
sent And had 1t dug up aud coni,cacd to the Cro"n'